P2M reward for arrest of Bulacan judge’s killers

Camp General Alejo Santos, Malolos City: Friends and relatives of slain Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Wilfredo Nieves raised a P2-milion cash reward to be given to anyone who can provide “A-One” information that will lead to the arrest of his killers.

The judge died in an ambush near the Malolos Industrial Park on MacArthur Highway in Barangay Tikay Thursday afternoon.

Bulacan Police director Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina said families and friends of Nieves gathered the money to speed up the unmasking of the judge’s killers.

Divina said a special panel was created to investigate the slaying. He said the Malolos City Police Station headed by Supt. Arwin Tadeo is trying to secure footage from closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at a car wash shop near the area where the judge was ambushed to check if the incident was caught on camera.

The Supreme Court condemned the killing and vowed that it will leave no stones unturned in finding the perpetrators of the crime.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva was directed to coordinate with prosecutors in Bulacan to get more details of the crime.

Malacanang also on Thursday ordered law enforcement agencies to track down the killers of Nieves.

“The killers of Judge Nieves are being tracked as the police and the government are determined to bring them to the bar of justice. We recall that Judge Nieves was responsible for the speedy trial of a high-profile carnapping case, which resulted in the conviction of known carnapping suspects,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

“The government is doing everything possible to bring them to the bar of justice,” he added.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Central Luzon also condemned the killing of Nieves.

“He was a good man and loyal to his profession. This is an act of cowardice and treachery,” Jose “Peng” dela Rama Jr., IBP-Central Luzon Governor, said.

On April 17, 2012, Nieves convicted Raymond Dominguez, one of the suspected leaders of a car theft gang operating in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, and sentenced him to 17 to 30 years in prison.

Coloma said that members of the judiciary have the right to decide whether or not they should bear arms. He added that the government will assist them in working out measures for their protection.

“This is a matter that must be referred to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the administrator of the judicial system and they are in the best position to determine what arrangements are appropriate for the line of work that they perform. The government, through its security agencies, are willing to work with the judiciary in determining what are the appropriate measures for improving the—for ensuring the security of our court officials,” he said.